Ranked! The 100 best players in the world, 2022
The best players in the world in 2022, featuring all-time greats, up-and-coming wonderkids and the stars we've been raving about all season
70. Lisandro Martinez
The best ball-playing defender on Earth? Manchester United fans worried that Lisandro Martinez would leave the team a little short at the back but the 5'9 Argentine has more than made up for his stature.
He breaks lines with his passing with his eyes closed and has been an incredible asset in Erik ten Hag's build-up. Couple that with his typically South American aggression and there was no way he wasn't thriving in English football.
69. Martin Odegaard
Originally a loan move to get much-needed creativity, Martin Odegaard has become the archetypal Mikel Arteta player: deft, intelligent on the ball and like a rabid dog out of possession. The Norwegian has been a stunning signing and now captains the team top of the tree at Christmas. It's amazing to think he cost just £30m.
68. Leroy Sané
The most unGerman player in Germany's set-up? Leroy Sané prefers to burst past players rather than pass past them, latch onto balls behind a defence rather than be clever in front of it.
Still, he's explosive at full-pelt, as Champions League opponents have found out this season and capable of operating on both flanks or darting through the centre.
67. Andrew Robertson
Andrew Robertson has become a club legend on Merseyside. That he's still as dependable as ever displays just how much effort he puts in every week and with his wonderful left-foot and incredible stamina, Liverpool are always a threat from the left.
66. Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling has had a peculiar start to his Chelsea career but few players in England have his gravitas these days. The Brent-raised forward is one of England's big-game stars these days and wears that No.10 proudly, capable either to feet or in behind. He's as good as he ever was and scarily, might yet be off his peak.
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65. Nuno Mendes
Primed to be the next best left-back in the world, Nuno Mendes is one of PSG's best signings in recent seasons. He bombs down his flank to form quite the pairing with Achraf Hakimi and he's defensively efficient, too.
64. Christian Eriksen
Christian Eriksen must have wondered what the hell he'd let himself in for when he found himself 4-0 down to his last employers and booed by the Brentford fans two weeks into his Manchester United career.
He needn't have worried too much. The great Dane is eternal shifting to a deeper berth to dictate traffic for Erik ten Hag and showing his class. He's been wonderful this season once more.
63. Alphonso Davies
Nicknamed ‘Roadrunner’ by his Bayern team-mates, due to his lightning speed, the Canadian officially holds the record for the highest speed ever reached in the German top-flight (over 36 km/h). He’s more than just a sprinter, mind. Davies is a solid defender, an excellent dribbler and a leader for his country.
If Canada are to enjoy a good World Cup, much will depend on the attacking prowess of their irrepressible speed merchant.
62. Dusan Vlahovic
The man who dominated the gossip pages before making his January switch from Fiorentina to Juventus. It wasn’t hard to see why he was so in demand. Vlahovic is strong, fast and deadly, and has continued his rich scoring vein in Turin. Still just 22, the Serbian could have the potential to develop into a Serie A legend.
61. Lucas Hernandez
Few defenders in world football display the kind of aggression regularly seen by the Bayern and France centre-back. Hernandez is happiest when playing the bad cop is a defensive pairing, hustling and harrying opposition strikers before nipping in to take the ball. He’s found his chances at club level limited in recent months, but will back himself to reclaim his starting berth after the World Cup.
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Prev Page The 100 best players in the world: 80-71 Next Page The 100 best players in the world: 60-51Tom Hancock started freelancing for FourFourTwo in April 2019 and has also written for the Premier League and Opta Analyst, among others. He supports Wycombe Wanderers and has a soft spot for Wealdstone. A self-confessed statto, he has been known to watch football with a spreadsheet (or several) open...
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